Bands shift into tents for wrapup

by: LEE LOGAN World Staff Writer
7/14/2008 12:00 AM

PRYOR Rain and high winds were too much for the metal side stages at Rocklahoma, but the weather didn't dissuade thousands of hard-core hair metal fans.

An estimated 126,000 fans came out for the five-day '80s music festival, despite 65-mph winds that brought down two side stages Saturday.

The stages fell about 6 p.m. during a sudden thunderstorm. The music started back up just after 8 p.m. with the rock band Lynch Mob and continued until 1:30 a.m.

A Rocklahoma spokesman, Rob Miller, said all 122 bands that were scheduled were able to perform.

"We're just happy that all the bands are going to be playing," he said.

Organizers converted three beer tents into music tents Sunday so the side-stage acts could play in between set changes on the main stage.

The only reported injury from Saturday's collapse came was that of a girl who broke her arm when she slipped while trying to escape the rain.

Fans seemed happy with having music under the tents.

"It's a great way to improvise," said Todd Warren of Broken Arrow. "They've got to do something because there's so many filler bands."

Warren's wife, Carrie Warren, said the couple "braved the storms last night partially."

"When the second wave (of rain) hit, we bailed," he added.

Despite the rain, many attendees seemed pleased with the festival.

"We're all a bunch of ex-longhairs from the '80s," said Billy King of Claremore. "It just goes to show the kid in you never dies."

Those who aren't ex-longhairs still have the long hairdos. Brandee Weaver of Springfield, Mo., had tattoos covering both arms, several piercings on her face and long black dreadlocks.

"There's a lot of other people like me here," she said.

Weaver was most excited to see Tora Tora, a band that she saw last in 1989. She also saw LA Guns for the ninth time.

"When I was a kid, I couldn't afford to go to shows," she said. "Now that I'm an adult, I can go to all I want."

Not every fan had a perfect time, however. Jeremy and Sheila Allenbaugh of Woodward said they spent more than $1,300 on VIP tickets, only to be told upon their arrival that the VIP section was full.

The Allenbaughs didn't bring food or water, thinking that those would be part of the VIP package.

"The bands are great. The music is great. But we feel like we've been totally ripped off," Sheila Allenbaugh said.


Crowd mostly behaved


The Mayes County Sheriff's office reported six arrests Sunday, most for public intoxication and drunken driving. That brings the arrest total during the festival to more than 20, Sheriff Frank Cantey said.

Miller said that in general, "The crowd has been extremely well-behaved."

Pryor Fire Lt. Kenny Cooper said one woman with diabetes got sick at the festival Saturday and died. Other injuries were relatively minor, including blisters and small cuts, he said.


Few cell phone problems


John Janzen, the Mayes County Emergency Management director, said fans overloaded Pryor's cell phone towers only a few times during the week. He had trouble getting through immediately after the stages came down and after several bands performed.

But Janzen said it wasn't nearly as bad as it was in previous festivals in Pryor.

"It didn't seem to be quite as bad as Country Fever," he said. "I'm not sure exactly why that is, but it's nice that it turned out that way."

Emergency personnel were stationed throughout the festival with radios. Emergency workers also had special cards that gave their cell phone calls priority.